Top 10 Knight Anime [Best Recommendations]

Japanese anime has borrowed many elements of Western medieval culture. The figure of the Knight is one that is most used. But in anime, Knights do not always wear armor and a helmet, nor are they fearless, and not necessarily men. What they all have in common is fighting for a better cause. Here are the Top 10 Knight Anime you can find out there.

10. Seiken no Blacksmith (The Sacred Blacksmith)

Cecily Cambell only wishes to be a Knight and protect her family like her father and her grandfather. The main problem is that she isn’t very skilled. During a fight her sword breaks, and just before she gets killed, a man wielding a katana comes to rescue her. This man, called Luke, turns out to be a blacksmith. They’ll fight together to prevent the Demon Sword Aria from falling into the wrong hands.

In this show, the katana is presented as the most powerful weapon, able to defeat any other sword. This introduces Japanese tradition into the worlds of Knights. We will follow Cecily Cambell on her path to be a Knight, and how she gradually becomes better using the katana.

9. Scrapped Princess

The God Mauser once made a prophecy: the “Scrapped Princess” has the power to destroy the world. A knight had to kill her, but he just couldn’t end the life of a baby, so she grew up and was known as Pacifica Casull. Her adopted brother and sister will protect her from the fanatic followers of Mauser. Shannon, her brother, is a skilled swordsman, while Racquel, her sister, is an expert with magic. Together, they will travel to different towns trying to avoid Pacifica getting killed before her 16th birthday.

Princesses, Knights, magic, and dragons, what else can you ask for in a Knight Anime? Shannon and Pacifica complement each other perfectly. Pacifica is cute, calm and peaceful, while Shannon is impulsive, brave but wise, a typical hero. It’s also interesting that the enemy is not a villain, but a religion institution. It tells a message about prejudice and fate.

8. Lance N' Masques

Youtarou Hanafusa is one of the “Knights of the World”, an order which is still active in present time. He has the White Knight Syndrome and he can’t stop himself from helping anyone who is in danger. Wearing a mask and cape and wielding a lance, he walks the streets as “Knight Lancer”. When he saves the young girl named Makio Kidouin, he finds out that she has a lonely life, so he resolves to look after her. He must defend the little girl while trying to protect his secret identity as the “Knight Lancer”.

This is a funny story of a young knight who after so many years of training, can’t help saving people. Although he would prefer to be an ordinary guy living an ordinary life, Youtaro was born to be a knight and he just can’t fight it. He belongs to an order which has survived over 900 years. He is the heir of the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad, which once it belonged to his father, the great Knight Shin Hanafusa. His father is a legend within the order and Youtaro feels complex about it. Is funny because a White Knight doesn’t suit in modern Japan, so he is called a pervert many times.

7. Garo: Honoo no Kokuin (Garo the Animation)

Mendosa is the chief advisor in the Kingdom of Valiente, and he had begun a fierce witch hunting. Many magical knights and their sorcerers have died because of this hunting. Leon Luis is the son of a sorceress and a knight, and he was raised as the heir of the Golden Armor. Mendosa has deposed Prince Alfonso, and now is the ruler of the kingdom. The prince decides to find Leon Luis and the Golden Armor to save his kingdom and protect the people.

First of all, the anime is set in a kingdom which resembles Spain during the inquisition. That’s an interesting starting point for a Japanese anime. Leon Luis is a Makai Knight who has inherited special armor to fight the creatures known as Horrors. The story is the story of what it meant to be a knight.

6. Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry (Chivalry of the Failed Knight)

Mage-Knights are humans capable of using magic to create weapons from their souls. Ikki Kurogane is going to a special academy for Mage-Knights, but apparently he has no magic abilities. He is known as the “Failed Knight”, which is the same as being the worst student. Victim of a misunderstanding, he ends up being challenged to a duel with Stella, the best student at the academy and also the princess of the Vermillion Kingdom. The loser must be the winner’s slave for life.

The knights in this anime aren’t conventional since they fight with weapons born of their souls. The Blazers (students for Mage-Knights) must show their abilities in the Seven Star Tournament. The winner will earn the condition of Magical Knight. We will follow Ikki’s effort to prove he isn’t worthless, and that the grades don't really matter if you got what is needed. He is a hard worker and he won’t give up, nor in his battle, nor in the love for Stella. Romance is a really big ingredient in this show, but is not forced and you’ll enjoy it.

5. Arslan Senki (The Heroic Legend of Arslan)

In the year 320, the Kingdom of Pars is ruled by the formidable King Andragoras and is at war with the neighboring kingdom, the Empire of Lusitania. Arslan is the prince of Pars, but unlike his father, he seems not to have what is needed to be king. Although he is still very young, he must fight his first battle. The king is betrayed and they lose everything. Arslan manages to escape alive, protected by the General Daryun. However, he is meant to be a king, and with the loyal general on his side, he goes on a journey to reclaim the fallen kingdom.

The basic plot of this anime is simple, but then makes a lot of twists in the best Game of Thrones’ style. The plot is a blend of Persian History and the Crusades, a true Epic anime. The choreography of the battles is excellent, without pointless bloodshed and a lot of tactics thanks to Narsus, the major ally of Arslan. The three main characters are good stereotypes of this kind of anime: Daryun is a badass, but extremely loyal to Arslan; Arslan is good natured and idealistic, and Narsus is a genius in tactics. With Arslan Senki, we reach the middle of this ranking.

4. Fate/stay night

This is a perfect magical tale where the Holy Grail is the prize of a battle between seven mythical warriors summoned by seven magicians. Each master and each servant has his own principles. Shiro is a high school student, son of a magician, but not very talented for magic. When he finds himself caught in the middle of a battle between two servants, he summons his own warrior, a knight named Saber. Together, they must fight The Fifth Holy Grail War and be smart enough to know when you are a hero, and when you are a killer.

Saber’s character will surprise you. She’s much more that you can see on the surface. She is probably the best Knight that you will ever find. The plot revolves around the Holy Grail War. The search for the Holy Grail was the goal of the Knights Templar and became a classic of medieval literature.

3. Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins)

In the Kingdom of Leones, human and non-humans live together. The mission of the Holy Knights is to protect the region of Britannia and the Kingdom. They are powerful, and people both admired and feared them. The Seven Deadly Sins are the strongest knights ever. The story tells that they have betrayed the kingdom, but Queen Elizabeth doesn’t believe it. Then she sets on a quest for the Sins. Surprisingly, the first Sin she meets is Melodias, a farmer in charge of his pigs.

If you like stories that involve a quest on finding people, then you’ll love Nanatsu no Taizai. It might look like a classic knight’s anime: princess, king, knights, and kingdoms, but the truth is that it’s unique in a special way. All the characters are weird, but it’s a funny and lovely weirdness and that’s why it’s in the 3rd position of the top.

2. Claymore

In this anime, humans must live in the constant fear of demonic creatures called Yoma. These demons can look just the same as the humans they have eaten, being able to blend into society and continue killing humans. The Claymores, women who are half-human, half-Yoma, were created in order to stop these creatures. Claymores are rejected and necessary at the same time. A young boy named Ruki has lost his family in a Yoma attack. He is drawn to a Claymore named Clare. Together they will fight to free the world from Yoma, while Clare must try not to lose her humanity.

Although being a woman, Clare is one of the best knight characters in anime. She is moved by revenge against a powerful Yoma who killed someone very important to her. She grows her power throughout the story, and she needs Ruki as an anchor to remind her she is also human. The fighting scenes are amazing in this anime, ranking the 2nd position.

1. Berserk

Guts is a mercenary who has always been on the boundary between life and dead. He was born from the corpse of his mother and lived a horrible childhood. Now, the battlefield is the only place where he feels alive. His life was always the same until he meets Griffith, the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawks. Guts joins the group, and there he finds true and loyal friends. He quickly ascends positions and becomes the head of the offensive faction, but he soon learns that there are no limits to Griffith's ambitions. Will he be able to protect his mates and fight the darkness lying within him?

Berserk is the best knight anime ever. Set in the medieval times, the story follows one man's struggle to find what he is living for in a world full of dreams, but also full of brutality and desolation. This anime gets you hooked from the first episode, which is why this true classic ranks the top position.

Final Thoughts

And that was our top 10 Knight Anime. Of course, we didn’t forget Saint Seiya, which was probably the first knight anime most of us have watched. Saint Seiya is already a classic, but we want to include newer anime in our top.

As we can see, Knights are always on a quest fighting for justice –their personal sense of justice-, risking their lives. Let us know in the comments below if there is any other anime that should be included on the list.

Writer

Author: Kapilía

My real name is Analía Costa, but Kapilía is my evil twin who only loves to sleep, eat, and watch anime. Although I’m from Argentina, Kapilía was born in Japan in 2010. After 3 years living and studying there, we learned to coexist and happily lived together. I want to be a writer, it seems that Kapilía too.